File and folders cannot be seen or accessed

[popeye]

I have an 80gigabyte seagate drive partitioned into 2 (C & D) drives 1 for the OS and the remaining for backup. I am using windows XP home. Drive D reports it is 45% used but when you click to see the contents of the drive, there are no folders or files, in explorer and in DOS. I know there are files that I backed-up in there but now I cannot access them. Just 3 weeks ago I accessed the files and folders but this week, windows explorer's "My Computer" reports the drive as with content but you cannot see any files or folders. Tried to use also DOS but to no avail. Is there a solution or cause for this mysterious behavior?

[wannabe1]

I'm puzzled, why backup on the same drive.  If that drive fails all partions fail also.  Either backup on line or a second drive of some type.  On to your real question do a search "free data recovery software".  Look them over.  They might do the job.  Careful of " free downloads".  Be sure they say free software

[JJ 3000]

Try doing a system restore to when it worked.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000589.htm

If that doesn't work do this

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000516.htm

[BC_Programmer]

I'm puzzled, why backup on the same drive.  If that drive fails all partions fail also.  Either backup on line or a second drive of some type.  On to your real question do a search "free data recovery software".  Look them over.  They might do the job.  Careful of " free downloads".  Be sure they say free software

duplicating the files, even to the same disk, can prevent problems such as corrupted files. If the files get corrupted one restores from the duplicate.

under command prompt have you tried dir /a?

[Karnac]

http://www.webtechdaily.com/2008/06/29/8-free-data-recovery-software/